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Parenting

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Original poster

parent and toddler groups?

18 replies

vict17 · 05/06/2004 09:54

Hi, I have a 2 month old ds and just wondered if that is too young to take to these sort of groups? What age did you start taking your babies to them? I want to meet mums with babies of similar age and thought perhaps they'll all be a bit older? TIA

OP posts:

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roisin · 05/06/2004 10:14

Vict - no, it's not too young. Often new mums don't take first babies that age to a toddler group, but second and subsequent babies come along from just a few weeks old - so it's a great way to meet people. Find out about the ones near you and drop in - some may have more babies than others.

Hope you have fun and make some great friends - for you and your ds.

roisin · 05/06/2004 10:15

We actually moved house 2 wks before my first ds was born, and I went along to the local toddler group the week BEFORE he was born, because I wanted to meet some people! I was made very welcome, and made loads of fantastic friends there over the next 4 years. So I don't think you can take them too young.

SamN · 05/06/2004 10:23

Hi there

I would assume that all or most of the kids in a toddler group would be walking already - so probably from about 1 yr upwards.

I remember going to a group when ds was about 6 wks and all the other kids were about 1 yr and wobbling around and I couldn't put him down cos I was worried they might not notice him and tread on him or something. Then when he started walking himself I stopped going to our 'mother and baby' group cos all the others were younger and I didn't want them having the same worries. Plus the other mums didn't really have toddlerproof houses as their babies weren't at that stage.

But I would definitely recommend finding some kind of group so you can meet other mums. It helps so much to know you're not alone - and if you develop friendships you can meet them outside of the groups as well. Most of my mummy friends in my area are people I met at postnatal groups that our hv arranged, so we've been through the same kinds of stuff at the same time (worrying about breastfeeding, growth, weaning, jabs etc.).

Do you know of any playgroups near you? The one I used to go to near us has lots of space for toddlers plus a special room for babies with the kind of things they might be more interested in - and the bigger kids don't go in cos they're more interested in the tricycles etc.

The NCT was also good but I think it depends on who's in your area and I ended up running our NCT mother and baby group in the end. But even if they don't have a group they might be able to put you in touch with other mums in the same area as you.

hth

Sam

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Original poster

vict17 · 05/06/2004 10:44

Thanks for all the replies - it's a bit daunting but I know I should pluck up the courage to go!!

OP posts:

magnum · 05/06/2004 11:06

I know the feeling vict17, I was trying for weeks to pluck up the courage to go to my local group. I finally did, and when I got there they'd changed the day and the time. It's held at a time when my dd has her nap so no good for me. Frantically looking for another group as dd nearly one! You really must go as it's quite lonely without other mums to chat to.

Chinchilla · 05/06/2004 22:05

When I first took ds to one, it was more for me than him. Mine had a really good mix of babies and near walkers (walkers went next-door). Go for it and make some friends. Most of the mums that I see regularly now are people I met there.

Chinchilla · 05/06/2004 22:06

Oh yes, meant tp say that the earlier you go, the more likely you are to make friends. In out toddler section of the group, the kids are so busy busy busy that you spend most of your time watching them, and it is always harder for the new members to make friends.

fee77 · 07/06/2004 09:41

Go anywhere once, that is my motto. If you like it and it is suitable go back, if not don't! or wait til DS is older.
My DD is now 8 mths we have been to swimming lessons, yoga, storytime at the library, kiddis gym etc. If you stay at home you will end up doo-lally!
Also ask at your clinic if they organise anything. Mine had a post-natal support group which ran for 6 weeks. The mums i met there are fantastic. All our children are the same age we meet up at least once a week and go on the lash once a month!!!

woodpops · 07/06/2004 10:47

I started taking my ds to a toddler group when he was about a year old. But when dd came along she came with us from a week old. She really liked watching all of the other kids playing and the children were fasinated by there being a baby. Toddlers is my weekly lifeline. School holidays are awful as toddlers doesn't run!!!!

Original poster

vict17 · 07/06/2004 19:27

Hi everyone - wish me luck, I've decided to be brave and go to my 1st one tomorrow lunch time! I'll post when I come back Another quick question - my leisure centre offers 'baby swimming times' is that for a 2 month old like mine? What does the baby need to wear? I know i'll need a new post-natal swimming cossie....

OP posts:

babysteffee · 07/06/2004 19:54

Baby swimming sounds great and I'd say two months is ideal.

I took my ds when he was 6 months old and he hated it, must have been the wrong age altogether or something because no matter what he's not gotten used to the swimming baths, and even hates the bath and getting his hair washed.

My dd went at 6 weeks and loves water.

Hope you both have a lovely time if you do decide to go.

roisin · 07/06/2004 20:06

Good luck vict - hope it goes well for you. Don't sit on your own - sit next to someone else on their own and say hello. Hope you make loads of new friends!

Re baby swimming, there was a great thread on here recently with loads of practical advice

SoftFroggie · 07/06/2004 20:44

Go for it, and try several if the first one isn't suitable.
I went to quite a few different groups when DS was between birth and 6mo (when I went back to work). Some were great with kids of all ages and lovely parents, some really cliquey, some only had toddling kids. The larger ones tended to be better.
I'm about to try another one for the first time in a year - rang the organiser today and she was very friendly, but still feel a little nervous.

Baby swimming we LOVE - started at 3mo, and been going ever since.

Have fun.

handlemecarefully · 07/06/2004 21:43

How did you get on vict17? - hopefully you didn't feel too out of it and other babies were present? I go to 2 toddler groups a week with my nearly 2 year old and 8 week old baby, and at both groups there are several other mums of babies.

I never found either group cliquey - although naturally it took a few weeks to get beyond polite conversation with the other mums.

Original poster

vict17 · 08/06/2004 15:56

Well I went! There was me, baby, another mum,
her 2 year old and...... her husband!!!! That was it! Well apart from 3 or 4 women (volunteers from the church my mum's age) who presumably get all the toys out and they made the tea. Ds sat in a bouncy chair which he seemed quite pleased about and watched the little boy play. The mum was nice, I think she'll be there next week minus Husband (he was probably on leave). She's only been a few times and says there is only about ever 3/4 people there!! I think it will be better for ds when he's crawling and can
play with the toys so not sure if I will go again. Probably go next week as told this girl I would be there. But really need friends with babies. It'll be great being so close by though for when ds is bigger and can play with
the other kids. Still proud of myself for going. Hope the other mum isn't a mumsnetter

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 08/06/2004 15:59

Well done for going!!

handlemecarefully · 08/06/2004 18:48

Glad you went. Shame it isn't a very popular group. There are about 7/8 core mums who attend each of my toddler groups (plus a few other occasionals) so its not typical for a group to be so small.

Perhaps ask you health visitor if she has details of others in your area?

Metrobaby · 08/06/2004 20:26

vict17 if you want to meet mums and babies with a similiar age to yours, and in your area, it might be worth getting in contact with your local NCT group. They run postnatal meetups (I think that it what it is called), and they will put you in a group of similar aged babies. My 1st group with dd, all our babies were born within a 4 month age range.

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